Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery for the Treatment of Pituitary Adenomas in Elderly Patients

, Woo Seok Kim; , Gi Taek Yee; , Tae Seok Jeong; , Woo Kyung Kim

Clinical Article

Journal of Korean Society of Geriatric Neurosurgery 2018;14(1):16-19.
Published online June 30, 2018.

Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery for the Treatment of Pituitary Adenomas in Elderly Patients

Woo Seok Kim , Gi Taek Yee , Tae Seok Jeong , Woo Kyung Kim

Department of Neurosurgery, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University, Incheon, Korea

고령 환자에서 뇌하수체선종의 치료를 위한 경접형동 접근법: 17명 환자의 후향적 검토

김우석·이기택·정태석·김우경

가천대학교 의과대학 길병원 신경외과학교실

Abstract

Objective
As the population ages, the number of elderly patients with symptomatic pituitary tumors has been increasing. There is little information about the safety of pituitary surgery in elderly patients. This study was to evaluate the perioperative risks associated with endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery in elderly patients over 65 years of age.
Methods
A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients older than 65 years who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery from 2004 to 2017.
Results
A total of 17 patients were over 65 years of age. The mean age was 70.4 years (65-82 years), eight males and nine females. The mean follow-up period was 17 months (1-45 months). Mass effects were seen in 9 patients (52.9%), and three patients showed symptoms suggestive of pituitary apoplexy. One patient presented with acromegaly and one patient had no symptoms. The average length of hospital stay was 19 days (5-72 days). Six of nine patients complaining of visual disturbance showed symptomatic improvement after surgery. One patient died from aspiration pneumonia after surgery.
Conclusion
Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery is a safe and effective treatment for pituitary adenomas in elderly patients.

Key Words: Elderly, Pituitary adenoma, Endoscopic surgical procedure, Transsphenoidal approach, Neurosurgery